Philips showcases its 2013 Fidelio audio lineup at CES, we go eyes-on

Philips isn't showing off anything too groundbreaking at CES in the audio department, but it looks to be a solid offering all-around nonetheless. Whether you're eyeing the likes of a new soundbar for your home theater system or portable wireless speakers, the company should have you covered with latest Fidelio offerings -- and, of course, that's not all. We've got a quick breakdown of all the goods being shown off after the break, along with eyes-on galleries so you can get up-close looks for yourself. As always, you'll find the full press releases below it all for more info.

Not to be outdone by Soul Electronics' Party In A Box (yes, it's an actual thing), Phillips is introducing its Party Machine FWP3200D (again, we're not making this stuff up). This massive 300-watt boomybox (pictured above) features faux-DJ turntables, and two 30-pin docks for fading between between your playlists on your iPods and iPhones -- you you can even install an app on your devices for a more realistic DJing experience. The system's speakers light up for ambient effects, and you can either hit a MAX boost button or add external units to the system for even more volume. It'll be available this month for $350.

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Just looking for pristine wireless audio around your house? Philips appears to be pitching the fanciest lineup of wood-clad WiFi-enabled HiFi speakers we've seen in a while. Speaker-wise, its Wireless Hi-Fi lineup includes the $550 AW9000 with two towers totaling six drivers in all, the $350 AW5000 stereo unit with a duo of tweeters and two 4.25 woofers with a "bass-reflex enclosure" and, lastly, the $250 A300 which sizes down using just two tweeters a a passive bass radiator. All of the units will work with your favorite internet radio services and a free AirStudio app is available for Android an iOS. Folks who merely want to add the WiFi functionality to their existing speakers can purchase the Hi-Fi Link AW1000 for a cool $150. It's all slated to be available this month.

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On the soundbar front, we're exceptionally excited about the company's new 5.1 system. Dubbed as the, HTL9100 , the unit feature two detachable wireless speakers that can be placed behind your couch, serving as true the left and right rear channels. The speakers can operate for up to ten hours in this setup, at which point you can connect them back to the bar for simulated surround sound while they charge. What's more, the unit also has onboard Bluetooth, an additional HDMI input and an orientation sensor that adjusts the EQ for the likes of being placed on a shelf or a wall. This one will set you back a lofty $800 when it hits shelves come May. A trimmed down soundbar, the 5120, offering much of the same connectivity and an integrated subwoofer will also be available for cool $250.

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Of course, Phillips wouldn't forget headphones, and two models stood out to us the most. First up, the X1 is its latest set of audiophile cans. These open-backed cans feature 50mm drivers and an over-ear design, all of which are essentially par the course for this category. While we weren't able to asses the audio quality, we were pleased to find that the depth inside of the earcups is plentiful. This meant nothing was pushing against our ears, negating any fears of cartilage cramps for long listening sessions. You can expect to pay $250 for 'em when they're available this month.

Aside from the X1, the company has also teamed-up with O'Neil for a rugged headphone with snowboarders in mind. Dubbed, The Crash, the company claims that this st is nearly indestructible. Although a bit on the unwieldy side in terms of size, a "chill mode" lets the earcup drop down for resting on your collars. No concrete details on a release just yet.

Lastly, the company is introducing two Bluetooth models. Details are scarce, but one model features an over-ear design with intuitive on-earcup controls and a microUSB port for charging, while a smaller on-ear version will also be available. For now, check out the pictures in the gallery above.

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Moving along to Bluetooth speakers, Philips has a speakerphone and two units that seem prime to take on Bose's SoundLink. WeCall is a pocketable gizmo that features a quartet of noise-cancelling, omni-directional mics for conference calls on the go and a 10-hour battery that can be charged via USB. Better yet, a free app for iOS and Android will be available to tweak your experience. It's set to help you do your business this March for around $150

Beyond that are the P8 and P9, and we can't help but again point out the resemblance to the SoundLink. That aside, their yet two more options for listening to music and taking calls wherever and whenever. An onboard USB port can be used to charge your devices, and touching the unit reveals a battery indicator. The P8 comes with a carrying pouch, while the P9 features a protective flap connected to the speakers. These will hit in March starting at $200.

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January 7, 2013

Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi effortlessly connects you to a universe of music
Award-winning high fidelity sound from smartphones, tablets, laptops or streamed from the Internet

LAS VEGAS - Today at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Philips launches the ultimate solution for high definition wireless music at home: the Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi range. Including the EISA award-winning flagship A9 speakers that feature a solid wood finish and six Hi-Fi transducers, it's a range that's designed to appeal to the most discerning music lovers.

"The way we listen to music is changing, and so is the technology we use for enjoying music at home," said Edouard Petit, marketing manager Audio at Philips. "We are now living in a connected world. Our music is stored on smartphones, tablets and laptops, and we are increasingly enjoying a stream of unlimited music from the Internet. Delivering on strong heritage in sound, the new Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi range gives you access to a whole universe of music at your fingertips."

Demonstrating the strength of the new range, the flagship Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi speakers A9000 were recently awarded 'European Wireless Speakers of the Year 2012-13' by the European Imaging and Sound Association. While the A3000 was honored by the Consumer Electronics Association by receiving a 2013 CES Innovations Award.

The Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi range gives you access to a whole universe of music without moving an inch. You can stream and enjoy music from your smartphone or tablet, whether it is an Android or an Apple device. You can also enjoy your entire music library stored on your PC or Mac, as well as from online music services such Napster, along with over 30,000 Internet radio stations from TuneIn.

Napster, one of the most recognizable digital music brands in the world, offers more than 15 million titles from all genres, as well as a wide range of audio books. Furthermore, Napster provides personally tailored recommendations and playlists, channels and music features pre-programmed by their team of music experts.

High-Fidelity sound With an 80 year heritage in acoustics, Philips has always been, and continues to be driven by its obsession with sound. Fidelio is Philips' premium range of high fidelity audio products and the latest evolution of this obsession. The Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi speakers range has been built with professional grade Hi-Fi drivers, Class-D digital amplifiers, gold plated connectors and lossless audio support so you can hear every detail in pristine quality. The distinctive diamond-shape cabinets provide high rigidity for tight and deep bass reproduction, and cater for a very wide sweet-spot, filling even large rooms with music from these impressive compact speakers.

Control from anywhere
Enjoying wireless control of your music is easy. To set your speakers up you just need to download the Philips AirStudio app for Apple and Android. It will guide you through a few steps to connect your speakers to your home network. It's a simple, automated process in which you just need to enter your Wi-Fi password and assign a name to your speakers. The app features a simple drag and drop interface making it easy to connect any music source to the speaker of your choice.

Fill more rooms with sound
Bring high fidelity sound to any room at home with the extensive range of Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi. Whether you're looking for a whole new audio system or prefer to upgrade your existing setup, the Fidelio range comprises of different audio solutions, from all-in-one speaker systems such as the Fidelio AW9000, AW5000 or AW3000, to a receiver like the Fidelio AW1000, which connect to your existing speakers and/or amplifier. For a completely immersive home audio experience, Philips AirStudio can control multiple speakers so you can enjoy different music in different rooms.

Introducing the Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi range
The leader of the range is the Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi speakers AW9000. Built for true sound enthusiasts, it delivers excellent stereo imaging throughout the whole listening room thanks to its unique shape. Crafted with solid wood, this set of two loudspeakers features six Hi-Fi transducers and is at ease with any type of music, with a sound that is wide, clear and impressively deep. Digital and analog inputs allow for a wide range of connectivity to your TV/AV equipment. The AW9000 speakers will be available in January with a suggested retail price of $549.99.

The Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi speaker AW5000 is a single stereo unit, featuring two high quality soft dome tweeters and two 4.25" mid-woofers in a bass-reflex enclosure. Large woofers and high power output mean the A5 provides an immersive listening experience even in large rooms, thanks to a generous 5.5 liters of acoustic volume. A universal speaker mounting system adds versatility to the design. The AW5000 will be available in January with a suggested retail price of $349.99.

The Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi speaker AW3000 is a compact speaker that produces a powerful and detailed sound. This sleekly designed cube was honored by the Consumer Electronics Association with a 2013 CES Innovations Award. The stereo unit is built around a two-way system featuring a soft dome tweeter and a powerful compact woofer loaded by a passive radiator, for each channel. The A3 is also wall-mountable, and like all models in the range, it features five discreet, direct keys to your favorite Internet radio stations for instant access to your music. The AW3000 will be available in January and have a suggested retail price of $249.99.

The Philips Fidelio Wireless Hi-Fi Link AW1000 lets you upgrade your existing stereo or home theatre system into a wireless Hi-Fi system. The AW1000 will be available in January and have a suggested retail price of $149.99.

Philips' AirStudio app is available free from the App store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at HYPERLINK "http://www.iTunes.com/appstore" www.iTunes.com/appstore. Android™ users can download the AirStudio app via the Google Play store.

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Philips Party Machine
FWP3200D

Unleash superior sound and start the ultimate party with the Philips Mini System Party Machine (FWP3200) announced today at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). This mini system features dual rotating docks that function as "turntables", allowing users to be the DJ and play, mix and/or scratch their music. Channel faders make it simple to switch between tracks or blend the music together in a true DJ fashion. A customizable built-in light show adds a fun element to the party. A durable and hip design makes the Philips Party machine the perfect addition to kick any event up a notch.

Enrich Your Sound Experience
MAX sound for instant power boost
Digital sound control for optimized music style settings
300W RMS total output power

Enhance the Party with Club-like Features
Simple setup allows you to connect other Philips Party Machine speakers to enhance the sound
Lightwight with built-in handles ensuring you can move the party from room to room easily
Dynamic lighting for dancing to the beat
Optional DJ app for mixing and scratching iPhone music

Available: January 2013
Suggested Retail Price: $349.99

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January 7, 2013

The toughest headphone Philips | O'Neill have ever made

LAS VEGAS - While only two years into their dynamic partnership, today Philips | O'Neill unveiled at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) a new headphone that takes the definition of durability to the next level. "THE CRASH" can withstand almost anything thrown into its path and offers an unmatched superior sound quality in a tough package. Finally, after months of tests, Philips | O'Neill can now officially spread the word that they developed the toughest headphone they have ever made: "THE CRASH"

The TR90 headband of "THE CRASH" will counteract all the force you put it through, resulting in a virtually indestructible headphone. Surviving forces up to an earth shattering 1500 kg of static force is the proof that "THE CRASH" punches well above its weight. If this wasn't enough, "THE CRASH" has a pro level sound produced by the speaker drivers that are completely protected with an ultra-strong, metal cabinet. This power combination ensures that the unprecedented sound quality survives your battle through the elements.

Philips | O'Neill team riders, Jeremy Jones and Mark Mathews chuck their boardbags into planes all over the world as they head to some of the toughest climates on the planet. Where Jeremy rides near vertical, previously untracked lines into the Alaskan backcountry, Mark surfs waves of a bone crushing height that scare most. Whatever the circumstances, they demand headphones that will withstand and endure all the abuse that they throw at them. And for this job ""THE CRASH" is the only fit.

Unrivaled strength doesn't have to mean uncomfortable though. Far from it in fact as "THE CRASH" features an Active and Chill mode, which offers a perfect fit whether "THE CRASH" is blasting tunes through your ears or left around the neck for when you want to chill.

Set for release in early 2013, "THE CRASH" headphone by Philips | O'Neill is Tested on Animals and is ready for your abuse.
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LAS VEGAS - Today at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Philips announces the release of the Philips Soundbar speaker with integrated subwoofer and Bluetooth (HTL5120), the first intelligent soundbar to feature an orientation sensor and a built-in subwoofer. Available in black, the stylish design is Philips' most compact soundbar. It includes Bluetooth connectivity, so you can stream all your music directly from your smartphone, tablet or any other Bluetooth-enabled device.

"With this Soundbar we wanted to create a stylish and integrated solution that would look great in any home", said Todd Richardson, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for P&F, exclusive licensee for Philips consumer televisions and home theaters in North America. "We know that many people are looking for a home cinema sound solution that looks great but that doesn't take up too much space. Our big innovation with this product is that we've been able to integrate the subwoofer into the soundbar without compromising on the sound experience it delivers."

Traditionally, Soundbars are accompanied by a separate subwoofer that takes up space on the floor of the room and requires an additional cable to connect it. By integrating the subwoofer into the Soundbar itself, the overall effect is an elegant shape reminiscent of a plane's wing.

The Philips Soundbar includes intelligent technology that enables it to recognize if it's lying horizontally on a shelf or TV cabinet or if it's been mounted on a wall. Using smart equalization, it automatically adjusts to deliver the best sound performance in either position.

The sound experience is further enhanced by Philips' Virtual Surround Sound technology and advanced spatial algorithms that produce a rich and immersive audio experience from one source.

The Philips Soundbar also includes a second HDMI port that allows you to easily link your media system or games console. For music playback it connects wirelessly to any Bluetooth-enabled device, so the only wires needed are for power and a link to the TV, ensuring the design stays as striking as possible. The HTL5120 will be available in May with a suggested retail price of $249.99.

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January 7, 2013

Philips Fidelio Portable Speaker allows you to listen to crystal clear music wherever
you go

LAS VEGAS - To enjoy your music wherever you are, Philips has released the first Fidelio
Portable Speaker, the P8. This new speaker offers high fidelity sound that stays true to the original
recording and offers an elegant design that makes it perfect for home and travel. You can now say
goodbye to tinny music from your smartphone or tablet.

The Fidelio Portable Speaker range merges high-quality sound with superior style. The P8 packs a
full range of woofer drivers and wOOx technology, delivering clear sound and surprisingly deep base
that brings your music collection to life. Sleekly designed with premium materials and a compact size,
the P8 features a touch sensor, which activates to show how much battery is remaining. To protect
the P8 when traveling a protective pouch is included

The Philips Fidelio Portable Speaker works with Bluetooth, so it is easy to wirelessly stream your
music from any Bluetooth-enabled device. To make sure it is universally connectable, an audio-in
makes connecting any device simple and the Li-ion battery ensures
that no matter where you go you can play your music loudly and
proudly for up to eight hours. You can also charge your smartphone
with the built-in USB port. The P8 will be available in March with a
suggested retail price of $199.99.